Epeolus canadensis Mitchell, 1962

Onuferko, Thomas M., 2018, A revision of the cleptoparasitic bee genus Epeolus Latreille for Nearctic species, north of Mexico (Hymenoptera, Apidae), ZooKeys 755, pp. 1-185 : 48-49

14. Epeolus canadensis Mitchell, 1962 Figs 30, 31, 102B

Epeolus canadensis Mitchell, 1962. N. C. Agric. Exp. Stn. Tech. Bull. 152: 444 (♀).

Diagnosis.

The following morphological features in combination (excluding any that are specific to the opposite sex of the one being diagnosed) can be used to tell E. canadensis apart from all other North American Epeolus except E. compactus and E. ferrarii : in females, F2 is at least 1.2 × as long as wide; the mesoscutum has a small anteromedial patch of pale tomentum; the axilla is small to intermediate in size, not extending much beyond the midlength of the mesoscutellum (extending to <2/3 its length) but the free portion is more than 1/4 as long as the entire medial length of the axilla, and the axilla (except sometimes the tip) and mesoscutellum are black; the mesopleuron is closely (most i<1d) and evenly punctate; and the T2 fascia lacks lobe-like anterolateral extensions of tomentum, although it may be broader laterally. Epeolus canadensis differs from E. compactus and E. ferrarii in the shape of the T1 discal patch, which in E. canadensis is distinctly triangular or semicircular (the basal fascia is conspicuously arched and fully continuous with the longitudinal band) and its medial longitudinal extent is more than 1/3 the lateral extent. In E. compactus and E. ferrarii the shape of the T1 discal patch is variable but typically quadrangular with the basal and apical fasciae subparallel and separated by a distinct longitudinal band. In E. compactus , the medially-interrupted T1 basal and apical fasciae may be so broad laterally that they are joined, resulting in a diamond shape with concave sides. In E. ferrarii the discal patch may be trapezoidal or almost semicircular, but if at all semicircular its medial longitudinal extent is at most 1/3 the lateral extent and the basal fascia and longitudinal band are at least joined at somewhat of an angle.

Redescription.

This species was recently redescribed ( Onuferko 2017).

Distribution.

Atlantic Canada to southwestern United States (Fig. 31).

Ecology.

HOST RECORDS: An association between Colletes kincaidii Cockerell and E. canadensis hypothesized earlier ( Onuferko 2017) seems more likely now based on new knowledge that the two species have been collected in co-occurrence near Six Mile Creek (Ithaca), New York, USA (J. Ascher, personal communication, 2017) and personal collections of the two species in early July, 2017 on the side of a road in Navan (east of Ottawa), Ontario, Canada. Colletes kincaidii females and males were collected from staghorn sumac ( Rhus typhina L. ( Anacardiaceae )) on the same dates E. canadensis were collected from daisy-like flowers ( Compositae ) closer to the ground.

FLORAL RECORDS: See Onuferko (2017) for floral records. Floral associations are also indicated in Suppl. material 1, which includes a newly discovered association with Grindelia Willd. ( Compositae ) based on the label of one examined voucher specimen.

Discussion.

Detailed morphological and taxonomic remarks about this species are given in Onuferko (2017).

Material studied.

Type material. Primary: Canada: Nova Scotia: Ingonish (Cape Breton Island), 07.viii.1928, G. Fairchild (holotype ♀ [MCZ, catalog number: 32859]).

Secondary: USA: New York: 9-Mile Creek (Ithaca), 10.vii.1937, P.P. Babiy (allotype ♂ [CUIC, catalog number: 00015611]).

DNA barcoded material with BIN-compliant sequences.

Available. BOLD:ADA0845. Specimens examined and sequenced.-Canada: Ontario: 1♀, 1♂ (DEBU); Navan (45.3982°N; 75.3623°W) (Caroltodd Dr & Whispering Willow Dr), 02.vii.2017, T.M. Onuferko (1♂, PCYU), 03.vii.2017, T.M. Onuferko (1♀, PCYU).

USA: Arizona: 1♂ (PCYU); Flagstaff (35.1737°N; 111.6756°W) (Coconino County), 01-03.vi.2017, T.M. Onuferko (1♀, PCYU); New Mexico: 2♂ (DEBU, PCYU).

Non-barcoded material examined.

Canada: Nova Scotia: 3♀, 4♂ (CNC); Ontario: 10♀, 15♂ (CNC, DEBU, PCYU, ROM); Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, vii.2002?, J. Grixti (1♂, PCYU); Prince Edward Island: 1♀ (CNC); Quebec: 3♀ (CNC).

USA: Arizona: 5♀, 3♂ (AMNH, CNC, PCYU); Flagstaff (35.1737°N; 111.6756°W) (Coconino County), 01-03.vi.2017, T.M. Onuferko (1♀, PCYU); Huachuca Mountains, 14.ix.1938, R.H. Crandall (1♀, 1♂, LACM); Santa Catalina Mountains (Pima County), J.L. Neff (1♂, LACM); Arkansas: 1♀ (FSCA); Colorado: Boulder (Boulder County), 12.ix.1965, U.N. Lanham (1♀, CUM); Illinois: 1♀ (KUNHM); Kansas: 2♀ (KUNHM); Missouri: 1♀ (KUNHM); New Mexico: 5♀, 5♂ (AMNH, BBSL, CNC).